Electrical igniter for gas-engines.



Patented May I5, 1900.

11. m. TUTTLE. ELECTRICAL IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1899 (No Model.)

lN'VENTgli 4% @112;

% ATTOR N EY IDANTEL M. TUTTLE, OF CANASTOTA, NElV YORK.

ELECTRICAL lGNlTER FOR GAS ENGlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,778, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed February 20, 1899. Serial No. 706,246. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. TUTTLE, of Oanastota, in the county ofMadison, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Gas-Engines, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to gas-engines; and it consists in a new andimproved construction of sparking mechanism which is durable, effective,cheap, and easy to renew when necessary. The engine may be of anydesired construction, the form which I show being particularly strongand simple.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same reference-numerals indicate the same partsin all the figures.

Figure I is a front elevation of my engine, showing my sparkingmechanism. Fig. II is a corresponding side elevation. Fig. III is anisometric view of the cylinder, the top being removed and portionsbroken away. Fig. IV is a horizontal section of the insulated terminal.Fig. V shows a certain detail.

In the figures the well-known parts of the engine are indicated asfollows: 1 is the shaft; 2, the balance-wheel, secured thereon; 3, thecylinder; 1, the base thereof, in which the shaft rotates, beingconnected by a crank to the piston. 5 is the water-jacket,surroundingthe upper portion of the cylinder; 6, the water-jacketed top, securedthereto; 7, the exhaust; S, the oil-cup; 9, petcock 10, the pipe forintroduction of circulating water. 40 is gas-inlet to base of cylinderthrough a sprayer.

The new parts are as follows: 11 is an uninsulated terminal secured onshaft 12, journaled near the top of the cylinder extending out throughthe water-jacket, 13 being an arm secured to its outer end, of which oneend engages with a stop 14, and to the other is connected a spring 15for normally throwing the terminal upward as the parts are here arrangedor in other operative direction.

16 is a spring interposed between the side of the cylinder and arm 13for forcing shaft 12 outwardly, so that the tapering end of its enlargedportion shall be forced into the shafthole, making an air-tight joint.

17 is the insulated terminal, secured to the inner end of shaft 18,journaled in metallic I bushing 19, 20 being a nut fitted to the outerend thereof for securing the parts in position; 21, an insulating-bushin g to insulate the ter minal and attachedparts from thecylinder; 22, an arm secured on said metallic bushing and connectedelectrically thereto, carrying binding-post 23 for the attachment of thewire 24. 25 is a spring having the double function of throwing theterminal 17 toward terminal 11 upwardly, as here shown, and forcingoutwardly the terminal-shaft 18 to make the joint air-tight by means oftapering end of enlargedportion, as in case of the other terminal.

2G is a small rod secured to the outer end of shaft 18 and engaging withbinding-post 23,-whieh thus acts as a stop to limit the movement of theterminal 17 toward terminal 11. The spring 25 is coiled on the outer endof its shaft and has an outwardly-extending end engaging binding-post orstop 23, thus having the double function, as aforesaid.

The terminals are operated by rod or pitman 27, which is elevated anddepressed by the action of an eccentric 34 on the shaft, which rotatesagainst inner surface of collar 33, secured to the lower end of the rod.The rod or pitman is held in operative position by guide 28, to which issecured spring 29, bearing against the rod for forcing it against cam30, journaled in guide and turned by handle 31, by which position ofoperating-rod is regulated.

From this description the operation of my sparking mechanism will beclear. At each rotation of the shaft operating-rod 27 is thrownupwardly, engaging with spring end of ter minal-arm 13, forcing it upagainst the action of spring 15 and depressing the terminal 11, whichengages with and depresses terminal 17 against the force of spring 25.After this downward movement of the terminals has progressed to acertain point the lower end of op erating-rod is thrown to left byeccentric and the upper end to the right, the guide acting as a fulcrumwhereby the rod is thrown out of engagement with terminal-arm and cleartherefrom. The springs 25 and 15 come suddenly into play, forcing theterminals in the reverse direction from that in which they had beentraveling. This return movement of trolled.

be wasted. This regulation is effected bythe' turn of the cam forcingthe operating-rod more or less to one side, and thus hastening orretarding its disengagement with terminalarm. For instance, when theengine is started the parts may be adjusted so that the spark will comeat the proper instant; but as the engine gets up speed the spark fallsbehind the motion of the piston and must be hastened, which is easilydone by this construction.

By loosening nut 20 arm 22 and bindingpost 23, with which small rod 26engages, may

be turned easily from the outside to adjust the position of theterminal, by which the wear is taken up and the length of spark con- Itis evident that this exact arrangement of terminals is not necessary, asthey may be journaled in different positions in the cylinder and indifferent relations to each other without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

My sparking mechanism is simple and easily operated, as described. Theparts areeasy of access and adjustment, the terminals being adjustedfrom the outside. Platinum is not necessary. The terminals arepreferably made of iron and are cheap and easy to renew, if necessary.As there is a rubbing or wiping contact between them, corrosion and theformation of all needle-points are prevented and great durability isobtained. The result is a good spark of sufficient thickness, with abreak which does not depend on the operation of the engine. In a word, Iobtain simplicity, cheapness, durability, easy adj ustment and renewal,a good quick break, and

wiping contact, with iron terminals.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-engine in combination with the cylinder, an insulatedterminal and an uninsulated terminal arranged in the interior of thecylinder, normally out of contact, said terminals secured on the innerends of shafts journaled in the upper portion of the cylinder andextending horizontally and outwardly through the water-jacket, an armsecured on the outer end of the uninsulated-terminal shaft, a stop-pinengaging with one end of said arm, a spring connected to the other endof said arm tending to draw it down and force the terminal upwardly, asecond spring arranged between said arm and the outer surface of thecylinder, said insulated-terminal shaft journaled in a metallic bushingsurrounded by an insulated bushing, an insulated arm secured to theouter end of said metallic bushing and supported thereby, a binding-postsecured on the end of said arm engaging with said binding-post andarranged to force said shaft outwardlyand said insulated terminalupwardly, a rod also secured to theouter end of said shaft engaging withsaid binding-post to limit said upward motion, and a pitman operated bythe main shaft engaging temporarily with the spring end of saiduninsulated-terminal arm to force said terminals downwardly against theaction of the spring and in contact for a certain distance.

2. In a gas-engine in combination with the cylinder, an uninsulatedterminal arranged within the cylinder and secured to a shaft journaledin the top of and extending outwardly through the water-space, saidshaft having an enlarged tapering portion fitted to the inner mouth ofthe aperture to close the same tightly, an arm secured to the outer endof said shaft, a spring arranged between said arm and the surface of thecylinder to force the parts outwardly and maintain a tight joint, a pinengaging with one end of said arm to limit its upward motion, a springsecured to the other end to draw it downwardly and force the terminalupwardly; an insulated terminal arranged within said cylinder hav-' ingits end beneath the end of the uninsu-- lated terminal and a shortdistance therefrom,- a shaft supporting said insulated terminal,extending outwardly and journaled in a inctallic bushing insulated fromthe cylinder by an insulating-bushing, said shaft having an enlargedtapering portion fitting the inner end of the aperture, a nut fitted tothe outer end of said metallic bushing, an insulated arm secured theretocarrying a binding-post for the wire connection, a spring secured to theouter end of said second shaft for drawing the parts outwardly to closethe joint airtight and to force upwardly the end of the terminal, a rodsecured to the end of the shaft and engaging with said binding-post tolimit the motion of said terminal, and a pitman operated by the mainshaft engaging temporarily with the spring end of saiduninsulatedterminal arm to force said terminals down against the actionof the springs and in contact for a certain distance, and then todisengage from said arm.

3. In a gas-engine in combination with the cylinder, a shaft 18,journaled in a metallic bushing 19, insulated by an insulating-bushing21, an integral terminal 17 on said shaft, arranged at right anglesthereto and within the cylinder, an insulated arm 22, secured on theouter end of said metallic bushing by means of an insulated nut 20, andcarrying a binding-post 23, for attachment of one of the line-wires, arod 26 secured to the outer end of said shaft to engage with saidbinding-post and limit the return movement of said terminal, a spring 25coiled on the outer end of said shaft between said rod and nut andhaving its lower end engaging with said binding-post; an nninsulatedshaft 12, journaled in the cylinder and having a terminal 11, extendingat right angles therefrom adjacent to terminal 17, an arm 13, secured tothe outer end of said shaft 12, a spring 15, secured to one end ofsaidarm, a stop 14 engaging With the other end of said arm to limit themovement of terminal 11, a spiral spring 16 arranged on said shaft 12,between said arm 13 and the enter surface of the cylinder; and a pitman27 operated by means of an eccentric 34 on the shaft 1 of the engine toengage with the spring end of the arm 13, to force said terminals intocontact and for a certain distance against the action of theirreturn-springs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

DANIEL M. TUTTLE.

\Vitnesses:

H. M. SEAMANS, ALFRED WILKINSoN.

